Cycling: Cullen powers up in Perth

CAPITAL cyclist Kate Cullen confirmed that her preparations for next year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi are firmly on track with a fine performance at the Perth International Grand Prix in Perth, Australia, writes COLIN RENTON.

The bronze medallist at the Melbourne games in 2006 is currently training Down Under with three fellow Scots.

Cullen finished second behind the world omnium champion Josie Tomic of Australia in the women's 7.5 kilometre scratch event – Fifer Eileen Roe was sixth – and was fourth in the 15km points race, which was won by the American Theresa Cliff-Ryan, a World Cup medallist and former speed skating world champion. Edinburgh-based duo Evan Oliphant and James McCallum contested the men's events, with Oliphant showing particularly good form for this stage of the season.

He was fourth in the 20km points race, with McCallum 16th, behind the Australian Cameron Meyer – a colleague of David Millar at the Garmin-Slipstream team – whose brother Travis won the 10km scratch race, with Oliphant eighth.

Meanwhile, McCallum and Oliphant will be joined at the Endura Racing Team by Yorkshireman Ian Wilkinson next season. The former winner of the Girvan three-day race had several successes last season including the National Circuit Series.